Sharing the spotlight and laughs for Black Amish Comedy Tour

Laughter happens when two worlds collide on stage. So how about some black and Amish humor on the same stage, the same night?

MELANIE VANDERVEER

Laughter happens when two worlds collide on stage. So how about some black and Amish humor on the same stage, the same night?

The Black Amish Comedy Tour hits the Sherman Theater this weekend for non-stop laughs. Earl David Reed and Raymond the Amish Comic have joined comedic forces to bring two different audiences to the same show.

The two comedians knew about each other for years, but just recently decided to collaborate on stage.

"The cool thing is that we knew of each other out there performing, but I never saw him perform before we worked together. We talked about putting together a show because we are so culturally diverse," Reed said. "It's a two-headliner show. It's an eye-catcher."

The two comedians make sure people know that neither of them is the opening act. They are both headliners.

"Earl has been headlining for as long as I have. It's a true co-headlining show," Raymond said. "In stand-up comedy, whoever goes on last is the headliner. We didn't want to put either of us through that, so we come out and do a coin toss. It's fun to do, and not know what's going to happen. We have a recipe now on how we'd like the night to flow."

Raymond said the shows do not clash, and each brings in their own audience. They even do a little comedy banter back and forth in the beginning and the end of the show.

"When we come out on stage, it's kind of cool. We have crossover fans that love both of us," Raymond said. "It's a greedy thing we are doing. It's so difficult to survive in this business, and we make no secret that we are trying to get each other's audiences."

The two have 40-plus years of comedy between them. Reed is the host of a morning radio show in Harrisburg, in addition to doing comedy. And he's done some TV spots in the past.

"I like being on stage and performing that way," Reed said. "But there is more television in my future."

One question that pops up a lot: Is Raymond really Amish?

"I'm definitely not anymore. I never signed a deal. Once you commit to the Amish church and leave, you are shunned," he said. "But I never signed the deal. I'm considered a lost soul. If you're not with the Amish, you're against them. The official phrase is ex-Amish."

For Raymond, the sudden influx of Amish-based reality television shows gives him material he could only dream of before. "Breaking Amish" and "Amish Mafia" are two shows he enjoys discussing on stage.

"My take on it is I'm thrilled there are ridiculous Amish shows that pop up on TV because it helps my career. I watch them, and I love them. 'Amish Mafia' is so entertaining. My Facebook wall is lit up with people asking if it's real. Is anything on TV real?" he said. "I'm a big mafia gangster fan. If there is a mafia, one would deny the existence. I think if you shook these people down, you could find threads of truth. It's good TV, and you can't stop watching it. I mock all this in my show. From a comedian's standpoint, I wish there will be 10 seasons of it."

Some might wonder how the Amish community feels about Raymond's act.

"They think it's a whole bunch of foolishness. I feel a little weird when I go there for shows, so I hide in my hotel," Raymond said. "Every year, a group of six or eight young Amish men come to see me. My audience thinks they are part of the show. I don't pick on them. I know what's going on — its guy's night out. They look like Amish mafia. They drink at the same pace, and someone at the table is in charge of them. They are totally sneaking out. The Amish is so concerned with what they are doing they don't really have time to worry about what I'm doing."

Reed said the show is universal, though it's for adults only.

"We won't do anything that will traumatize anyone. People will have a good time," Reed said. "The cool thing about stand-up comedy is that it's universal. You come out to be entertained."

And while the economy is nothing to laugh about, Reed said it doesn't hurt the comedy industry.

"The economy doesn't effect what we're doing. It's like alcohol. Whether times are good or bad, people still drink," Reed said. "It's the same with comedy. With the way life is with the economy and being bombarded with reality TV, comedy is an escape from reality."